The Never Let Me Go series that We Deserve
I have to admit, I didn’t plan to start this series when it first aired, even though I was intrigued by the interactions of WinnySatang in their breakout series My School President and the not-so-great We Are.
But one day, I had a change of heart and decided to give That Summer a chance. What I didn’t anticipate was the production quality and the chemistry between the leads. Yes, the amnesia trope is predictable and occasionally contrived, but you can feel the show trying to put a different spin on it. It uses unique colour grading, a slice-of-life narrative, and lovable, morally ambiguous side characters.
It feels like a mash-up of Call Me By Your Name, Never Let Me Go, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. It reminds you of the aesthetics and sexual tension of Call Me By Your Name, the secluded setting and high-stakes theme of Never Let Me Go, and of course, the “we will try to find each other in every universe” vibe of Eternal Sunshine.
It is an endearing experience. It reminds you of what the other BL series Never Let Me Go, where the major plot is set on an isolated island and the leads are stranded, could have been. The pacing of That Summer is much faster, spanning only 10 episodes. The narrative keeps moving, which is a stark contrast to the “start to drag midway through” approach found in Never Let Me Go and similar shows that have strong starts. However, I sometimes feel it moves too fast, leaving you barely enough room to process events or let the characters marinate in their emotions.
Still, I generally enjoy what the show offers and what it attempts to do. I would definitely recommend watching it for the production value, the WinnySatang chemistry, and the amazing soundtrack.
But one day, I had a change of heart and decided to give That Summer a chance. What I didn’t anticipate was the production quality and the chemistry between the leads. Yes, the amnesia trope is predictable and occasionally contrived, but you can feel the show trying to put a different spin on it. It uses unique colour grading, a slice-of-life narrative, and lovable, morally ambiguous side characters.
It feels like a mash-up of Call Me By Your Name, Never Let Me Go, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. It reminds you of the aesthetics and sexual tension of Call Me By Your Name, the secluded setting and high-stakes theme of Never Let Me Go, and of course, the “we will try to find each other in every universe” vibe of Eternal Sunshine.
It is an endearing experience. It reminds you of what the other BL series Never Let Me Go, where the major plot is set on an isolated island and the leads are stranded, could have been. The pacing of That Summer is much faster, spanning only 10 episodes. The narrative keeps moving, which is a stark contrast to the “start to drag midway through” approach found in Never Let Me Go and similar shows that have strong starts. However, I sometimes feel it moves too fast, leaving you barely enough room to process events or let the characters marinate in their emotions.
Still, I generally enjoy what the show offers and what it attempts to do. I would definitely recommend watching it for the production value, the WinnySatang chemistry, and the amazing soundtrack.
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